Frozen food rack



March 9, 1965 v. w. FOWLER 3,172,538

FROZEN FOOD RACK Filed March 12, 1963 Fig. 2

United States Patent 3,172,538 FRGZEN FOOD RAGK Vernal W. Fowler, 1930Van Buren Ava, Ogden, Utah Filed Mar. 12, 1963, 501'. No. 264,639 7Claims. (Ci. 211-49) The present invention is generally concerned withnew and useful improvements in frozen food racks and in particular, isconcerned with an adjustable rack wherein the number of food receivingcompartments can be varied so as to produce a rack of any desired sizeand shape for reception in for example, an enlarged freezer chest of thetype found in supermarkets.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a rack forfrozen food containers which will enable a systematic stacking of frozenfood containers so as to allow easy access to the containers by, forexample, shoppers, thus avoiding the confusion and difliculty nownormally attendant in retrieving a particular commodity from thegenerally scrambled assortment of containers.

Along the same lines of the above object, it is also an object of thepresent invention to provide a rack wherein the containers arepositioned so as to enable the shopper to easily grasp an individualcontainer for the removal of such container.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide for a rack,composed of a plurality of novel sections, which can be constructed soas to include any number of food container receiving compartments fromone on up.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a rack which,in addition to providing for a neat display of the products, alsosubstantially eliminates the tearing or crushing of the containers,particularly the corners, flaps and end closures thereof.

Another significant object residing in the particular rack of thepresent invention is the manner in which the lowermost container in eachcompartment is spaced above the bottom of the freezer case so as toprovide for a better circulation of the cold air.

In achieving the above objects, it is contemplated that the food rack ofthe present invention be composed generally of three different types ofposts, posts which are L-shaped in cross-section, posts which areT-shaped in cross-section, and posts having a cross-section in the formof an equilateral cross. The lower end of each of the posts is to berigidly aflixed to a flat rectangular base plate which is in turnreleasably secured to a support composed of right angularly relatedangle members positioned so as to open downwardly and being of a lengthso as to have the outer ends thereof projecting beyond the adjoiningedge of the rectangular base plate. Finally, elongated downwardlyopening angular connecting links are to be provided for releasableattachment to the angular support members.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an assembled rack;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partial plan view of a rack constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken substantiallyupon a plane passing along line 33 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating one form of postalong with the various other components comprising the presentinvention;

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FIGURE 5 is a partial perspective view of the upper end of a second formof post; and

FIGURE 6 is a partial perspective view of the upper end of the thirdtype of post utilized.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 10generally designates a rack constructed in accordance with the presentinvention, this rack, while having been illustrated as including ninefood container receiving compartments, being capable of actuallyincluding any desired number of compartments as shall be appreciatedfrom the following description.

The rack 10 includes three different types of posts 12, 14 and 16, eachpost consisting of a plurality of longitudinally extending laterallydirected flanges angularly related to each other. The post 12,functioning as an intermediate post, contains four flanges 18 and has across-sectional shape substantially in the form of an equilateral cross,the post 14, functioning as a side post, consists of three flanges 20and has a cross-sectional shape substantially in the form of a T, andthe corner post 16, consisting of two flanges 22, has a cross-sectionalshape in the form of an L.

With attention specifically directed toward FIGURE 4, it will be notedthat the lower end of each post 12 is rigidly affixed to a flatgenerally square base plate 24 which is in turn releasably attached, asby screws 26, to a cross support 28 which is formed of downwardlyopening angle members 30 having the outer ends thereof extending beyondthe adjacent side of the plates 24. These outwardly extending ends onthe angle members 28 are specifically provided for nesting withinsimilarly shaped angular connecting links 32 which are used toreleasably secure the posts together in spaced relation to each otherfor the forming of a food receiving compartment therebetween. Theangular links 32, also opening downwardly so as to be received over themembers 28, are secured to the projecting ends of the members 28 byscrew means 34 extending through apertures 36 and 38 in the members 28and 32.

As will be appreciated from FIGURES l and 2, the side and corner posts14 and 16 are also provided with base plates 40 and 42, the base plate40 being approximately one-half the size of the base plate 24 and thebase plate 42 being approximately one-quarter the size of the base plate24. Each side post 14 is secured at an intermediate point along onelongitudinal edge of a base plate 40 with the outer face 44 thereofflush with this edge. Each corner post 16 is secured to a corner of thecorner base plate 42 in a manner so as to position the outer angularlyrelated faces 46 thereof flush with the two adjacent edges of the plate42. Further, it will be appreciated that the posts 14 and 16 are,similar to the posts 12, provided with angular member supports to whichthe base plates 40 and 42 are secured, the support for each post 14consisting of three angular members extending outwardly beyond the edgesof the plate 40 in the same vertical plane as the adjoining flange 20,and the angular members of the corner post supports 16 being two innumber and projecting beyond the sides of the base plates 42 in the samevertical plane as the flanges 22, the angular connecting links 32 beingengageable with these members in the same manner described supra inregard to the members 30. With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, it will beappreciated that such an arrangement provides for the inward projectionof a base plate corner at each corner of the compartments formed by theinterconnecting of the posts.

These inwardly projecting plate corners are specifically provided forthe support of the food cartons or containers 48 above the supportingsurface so as to allow for a desired circulation of cold air underneaththe stacked cartons, the use of angular connecting links 32 facilitatingthis circulation of air.

In order to facilitate the insertion of the food'containers 48 to thecompartments, it is preferred that the upper ends of each of the flanges18, 20 and 22 be beveled, as at 59, on each of the upper inwardlydirected edges, thus providing in effect an enlarged inwardly taperingmouth for guiding the container. Furthermore, in order to facilitate theremoval of the containers, it is contemplated that each of the flangesbe of a thickness so as to allow for the insertion of one or morefingers in the space formed between adjoining rows of containers therebyallowing for an easy grasping of a container for effecting its removal.With reference to FIGURE 3, it will be noted that the provision of upperbeveled edges on the post flanges, also enables a stable stacking of onerack upon another with these upper beveled edges being engaged withinthe downwardly opening angular members of the superimposed rack.

From the foregoing, it should now be readily appreciated that a novelrack means has been defined, this rack means being composed of aplurality of individual members which enable the construction of therack with any desired number of vertically extending compartments, eachcompartment being so formed as to allow for the easy stacking of thefood containers therein and the equally easy removal of the individualcontainers, thus avoid the frustration normally accompanying an attemptto maintain frozen food containers in an orderly arrangernent.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A food carton rack consisting of a plurality of uprights, meansreleasably interconnecting said uprights in spaced parallel relation toeach other in a manner so as to form compartments therebetween, eachcompartment being bounded by four uprights, one at each corner thereof,each. upright including carton guiding means therealong, saidinterconnecting means consisting of a plurality of individual connectinglinks, each link extending between an adjacent pair of uprights.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein each upright includes a verticalpost, a rectangular base plate secured to the lower end of the post andsupport means beneath,

said base plate for positioning said base plate a fixed distance abovethe surface upon which the rack rests, each base plate projectinglaterally beyond its post a short distance into the adjacentcompartments so as to form, in conjunction with the base plates of theposts defining these adjacent compartments, a raised carton supportingbottom for each compartment.

3. A food car-ton rack consisting of a plurality of uprights, meansreleasably interconnecting said uprights in spaced parallel relation toeach other in a manner so as to form compartments therebetween, eachcompartment being bounded by four uprights, one at each corner thereof,each upright including a vertical post, a rectangular base plate securedto the lower end of the post and support means beneath said base platefor positioning said base plate a fixed distance above the surfacebeyond which the rack rests, said base plates projecting laterally uponthe posts and into the adjoining compartments so as to form a raisedcarton supporting bottom for each compartment, three different types ofposts being used, an intermediate type, utilized in the formation offour adjoining compartments, consisting of four elongated flanges andhaving a cross section in the shape of an equilateral cross, a sidetype, utilized in the formation of two adjoining compartments,consisting of three elongated flanges and having a T-shapedcross-section, and a corner type, utilized in the formation of a cornercompartment, consisting of two elongated flanges ar ranged at rightangles to each other, the flanges constituting the canton guiding means,the support means beneath each base plate consisting of downwardlyopening angle members arranged at right angles to each other with thenumber of angle members corresponding to the number of flanges, and witheach anglemember being in substantially the same verticalplane of one ofthe flanges, and said means releasably interconnecting said uprightseach consisting of an elongated angular bar nestably receiving one ofsaid angle members at each end thereof.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein each of the flanges is of athickness so as to provide a space between adjoining compartmentssuflicient to accommodate fingers to enable the grasping of a cartonlocated in one of the compartments.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein the upper ends of the posts arebeveled along those edges facing toward the formed compartments so as toprovide an enlarged upper end for each compartment.

6. The structure of claim 2 wherein each of the posts includes aplurality of longitudinally extending elongated flanges, each flangeprojecting laterally outwardly at approximately a right angle to theadjacent flange so as to define the corner of one ofthe compartmentstherebetween, the support means beneath each base plate consisting ofelongated downwardly projecting members arranged at right angles to eachother, each member being in substantially the same vertical plane of oneof the flanges, said members projecting beyond the base plates, saidconnecting links being releasably engaged with the projecting portionsof said members.

7. A food carton rack consisting of a plurality of uprights, meansreleasably interconnecting said uprights in spaced parallel relation toeach other in a manner so as to form compartments therebetween, eachcompartment being bounded by four uprights, one'at each corner thereof,each upright including a vertical post, a rectangular base plate securedto the lower end of the post and support means beneath said base platefor positioning said base plate a fixed distance above the surface.

upon which the rack rests, said base plates projecting laterally beyondthe posts and into the adjoining compartments so as to form a raisedcarton supporting bottom for each compartment, each of said postsincluding a plurality of longitudinally extending elongated flanges,each flange projecting laterally outward and approximately at rightangles to an adjacent flange so as todefine the corner of one of thecompartments therebetween, the support means beneath each base plateconsisting of outwardly opening angle members arranged at right anglesto each other with the number of angle members corresponding to thenumber of flanges and with each angle member being in substantially thesame vertical plane of one of the flanges, and said means releasablyinterconnecting said uprights each consisting of an elongated angularbar nestably receiving one of said angle members at each end thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.22,256 Hoop Jan. 26, 1943 2,889,924 Paulucci June 9, 1959 FOREIGNPATENTS 596,952 Canada Apr. 26, 1960 754,312 Great Britain Aug. 8, 1956CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner.

,1 wil I

1. A FOOD CARTON RACK CONSISTING OF A PLURALITY OF UPRIGHTS, MEANSRELEASABLY INTERCONNECTING SAID UPRIGHTS IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION TOEACH OTHER IN A MANNER SO AS TO FORM COMPARTMENTS THEREBETWEEN, EACHCOMPARTMENT BEING BOUNDED BY FOUR UPRIGHTS, ONE AT EACH CORNER THEREOF,EACH UPRIGHT INCLUDING CARTON GUIDING MEANS THEREALONG, SAIDINTERCONNECTING MEANS CONSISTING OF A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL CONNECTINGLINKS, EACH LINK EXTENDING BETWEEN AN ADJACENT PAIR OF UPRIGHTS